Host a Movie Night Under the Stars to Win $2,500 Towards a Backyard Theater Makeover

LONG BEACH, Calif. – April 19, 2010 – Epson America today announced the Great American Movie Night, a campaign to bring friends and family together to watch their favorite movies projected on a large screen or wall space under a starry sky. Inspired by the Epson MovieMate™, a portable projector featuring excellent image quality up to eight times larger than a widescreen 40-inch TV, high brightness, CD/DVD player and speakers all built-in, the Great American Movie Night program kicks off on April 19 and runs through June 13.

During the campaign, people can visit the Great American Movie Night Web site for lots of fun tips needed to host an outdoor movie party, including equipment checklists, pointers for setting-up outdoor viewing areas, ideas for fun movie party themes and kits complete with film suggestions, snack recipes, party music playlists, and even downloadable invitation templates. After hosting fun-filled movie night, creative backyard movie-goers are encouraged to return to the Web site to share their stories and photos.

“With Memorial Day weekend right around the corner, the Great American Movie Night program is designed to help people across the country jump start the season of backyard barbecues and family movie nights,” said Marge Ang, senior product manager, Epson America. “Sharing movies on the big screen under the stars is easy and affordable with Epson’s unique MovieMate all-in-one projector.”

As part of Great American Movie Night, Epson is offering a Projector-A-Day Giveaway from May 17–23 where consumers can win an Epson MovieMate 60 just in time to host their own movie night over Memorial Day weekend. Consumers can register until May 23, 2010 at 9 a.m. PT to be eligible. For anyone that hosts their own movie night with family or friends, Epson invites them to share a photo of the event to enter the Makeover Your Backyard Sweepstakes. Consumers who upload a photo of their movie night on the Great American Movie Night Web site can enter for a chance to win $2,500 towards a backyard theater makeover. Photos need to be uploaded by June 1, 2010 at 11:59 p.m. PT to enter.

The Epson MovieMate 60 combines a high-quality projector, CD/DVD player, microphone input, and stereo speakers in one portable unit for an affordable, easy-to-use and versatile solution for home entertainment. With MovieMate 60, family and friends can enjoy their favorite movies up to eight times larger than a 40-inch widescreen TV. MovieMate 60 features a bright, energy efficient lamp that delivers 2,000 lumens of color and white light output[i] and Dolby® Digital audio and big-screen image quality in a portable and convenient home theater solution. Featuring a sleek, compact design with a built-in handle and cushioned carrying case for portable convenience, MovieMate 60 makes it big screen home entertainment easy, whether inside or out.

About Epson America, Inc.

Epson America, Inc. is a leading provider of an extensive range of printers, 3LCD projectors, scanners and point-of-service printers that are renowned for their high quality, functionality, innovation and energy efficiency. Epson America is a U.S. affiliate of Seiko Epson Corporation, which employs more than 70,000 people in 106 companies around the world. Seiko Epson is committed to its ongoing contributions to the global environment and for the second year in a row has been named to the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index, an indicator for leading companies in economic, environmental and social criteria.

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Note: Epson is a registered trademark and Epson Exceed Your Vision is a registered logomark of Seiko Epson Corporation. Epson MovieMate is a trademark of Epson America, Inc. All other product brand names are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective companies. Epson disclaims any and all rights in these trademarks.

I wonder if there are any legal ramifications to promoting the public showing of a movie that is only licensed for private viewing? You know that most people are going to show their favorite Hollywood movie, and it is against the law to show a Hollywood movie in public unless you have special permissions.